Computer Reviews

The AMD Athlon Dual Core Processor is an advanced technology based system that offers high performance with digital media. You can simply increase your performance level a minimum of 80% when you work with an AMD Athlon Dual Core processor. You can minimize the time spent waiting for applications because the load is distributed between the two cores on the processor.

The AMD Athlon 64 x 2 3800+ Dual Core Processor is one of the fastest processors that delivers smooth and efficient multi-tasking activities. This means that this model allows the users to switch from one program to another without even pausing for the computer to catch up. This results in increase of office productivity performance of 22% on average.

Following are the significant features of AMD Athlon 64×2 3800+ Dual Processor:

• Processor speed – 64 3800+ / 2.0 GHz
• Bus speed – 2000 MHz
• Processor interface – Socket 939
• Other Technologies – HyperTransport

The advanced technology of the AMD Athlon processor offers the users to take real advantage of new innovations like life-like games, real-time encryption, accurate speech interfaces, easy-to-use video, cinema quality graphic effects and easy audio editing.

This model places itself well below the top of the range 4800+, but only costs half the price. With the price of newer processors stretching into the thousand dollar range, there is something lacking for those looking to keep themselves up to date, but without having to take out a second mortgage on their home to do it. Being near the bottom of the pack for Dual core processors allows you to get the best of the new stuff without the price payout.

AMD have made great steps forward when it comes to their chips. While the current bread of processors tend to get hotter and hotter as they push their clock speeds to ever more ridiculous (but justifiable) levels, AMD have managed to keep things cool. The Dual core chips manage to increase system performance by doubling up the performance over two cores rather than just cranking the speed up all the time.

Pros

• Leading edge software performance
• High-speed performance
• Inter-core communication at CPU speed
• Direct access to memory controller
• Lowest power cost
• Easy installation
• Extremely flexible
• Highly portable
• Cheap price

Basically a great chip if you want to get into dual core processing. A good balance between speed and price.

AMD Athlon 64 X 2 4800+ dual core processor has brought a revolution in the world of technology. With this model you can actually work fastest and quickest without having to look at the hourglass icon and sit for hours waiting for downloads and installations.

This dual-core processor increases the performance level of a system by at least 80-85%. The model puts the power of advanced dual-core technology on the desktop. It also contains two processing cores, residing on one chip that performs calculations on two different streams of data and thereby increases efficiency and speed even while running a variety of programs and new multi-threaded software.

Here are the significant features of AMD Athlon dual-core processor:

• Delivers true multi-tasking offering users to easily switch from one program to another without processing pauses.
• Increases office productivity performance.
• Allows amazing photo-editing, high-definition video, audio mixing and content creation.

The fully integrated DDR memory controller offers to provide hi-speed access to memory by offering the processor a direct connection to the actual memory. This results in allowing the users to enjoy quicker application loading and extraordinary application performance of the computer system.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ dual processor comes with almost the same features as the AMD 3800+ dual processor. The Cool’n’Quiet technology used in this model reduces heat output of your PC, reduces power consumption, and keeps your home quiet, for they produce less noise.

The processor uses HyperTransport technology, which provides significantly more bandwidth than other current technologies, uses low latency responses and low pin counts, maintains compatibility with legacy PC buses while being extensible to new SNA [Systems Network Architecture] buses, appears transparent to other operating systems and offers very little impact on peripheral drivers.

List of specifications of AMD 64 X2 4800 processor:

• Processor speed – 64 4800+ / 2.0 GHz
• Bus speed – 2000 MHz
• Voltage – 1.35 – 1.40 V
• Thermal Design Power [TDP] – 110 W
• Cache speed – 1MB per CPU
• Clock frequency – 2.4 GHz

The fabrication process used in AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800 is 90mm using SOI (silicon on insulator). The 128-bit memory controller in the model is compatible with PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200 DDR.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Flexible
• Hi-tech performance
• Great speed
• Cheapest
• Lowest power cost
• Highly portable
• Direct access to memory controller

There is a lot of hype going on over the new breed of dual-core processors, but do they really offer the performance advantages they say they offer?

This is one of the cheapest of the models in the x2 range from AMD, so it will provide a good comparisson for making a good value purchase.

Dual-core processors essentially offer two cpu processors in one. In the same chip, you will find two cores (the brain part, if you like) and cache (very fast memory) for each one. They are all housed inside the same casing. By having two cores to do the work, you can theoretically get a lot more done.

At over $500 this chip is still not cheap. When I compare it to my favorite priced AMD Athlon 64 3000+ with Venice Core do I really think that 3 times the price will give me 3 times the performance.

As always my main focus is good value. I don’t have any money to burn, and it is always a factor in my purchasing decision. Although modern technologies and that kind of stuff are interesting and worth considering, I am looking for real world performance for my buck.

The main area where dual-core processors, like this one and ones from Intel is the area of multi-tasking. When running more than one program your operating system, usually Windows and the processor use some pretty cool tricks to allow you to use more than one program at the same time. By taking turns using the resources of the processor, two programs can run at the same time seamlessly.

With two processors the ability to do this becomes that much better. There is the ability to physically split up the tasks over the two cores inside.

So what difference is there in real world performance?

Well, not as much as I would have hoped. The actual increases in speed in general applications is noticable, overall, it’s not enough for my liking.

Straight CPU tests which stress the processor in applications and things which basically just require raw power from the CPU like video encoding show an increase in performance. Speeds for such applications show a 50% to 60% increase in performance and speed.

General applications and things you might use everyday also benefit from this, resulting in speed increases too, nearly as much as above.

However when it comes to gaming, the increase is not so great. The processor performs on the same level as the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ mentioned above. But for 3 times the price that is not too good.

I would hold off on the purchase of this chip as the price is still too high. If money is not the first thing on your mind then this lowest of the AMD range will certainly allow you to run more programs with more overhead and ability to multitask more, which is perfect for the office environment. Unfortunately it does not provide enough power for the buck for my liking, but if you want to stay with the times and be a little future-proof, go for this guy.